Howard Holgate, Mike Broome, Mark Little, Martin Groenewegen, Duke Dooley, Rob Harris, Melissa, Bryce Schroeder, Pete Hertl, Mark Daughtridge, and Ken Walsh attended the meeting.
Dues go to Mark Little ($15 for regular members and an additional $7 for family members). Mark then shared the annual Treasurers Report. He reported that we are running a balanced budget, but we still had allocated $100 for conservancy donations from a VAR door prize a few years back. The treasurers report did not include some wear-and-tear fees collected for borrowed grotto gear.
Mike Broome had no news about changes to the web site.
Howard thanked everyone who brought desserts to the Holiday Party. However, he insisted that they should go home with people in the future.
Wiley Elementary School will be holding its Science Night on the evening of March 10, and the TriTrogs are invited to come back to talk about caves again. The theme this year is Mythbusters, so Pete Hertl and Ken Walsh are soliciting input about what myths we should try to bust.
Howard announced that the NSS is now offering a membership category titled Conservation Life Members. A five-year donation of $1000 will be going toward cave conservancy efforts.
Mark Little made a motion to donate the previously dedicated $100 for cave conservancies to ACC Gilley’s Cave Capital Fund. The motion was accepted unanimously.
At least five members were interested in the TriTrogs producing T-shirts in the next year.
As the first trip report, Melissa described her first caving trip in Starnes Cave with Rob Harris. They enjoyed a formidable mud wall, an interesting waterfall, and lots of climbing on rocks and ropes last October.
Mike Broome described a BCCS expedition trip he took the previous weekend with Lisa Lorenzin. Nittany Grotto joined the expedition, so they had seven different trips headed to three different caves. Lisa and Mike changed clothes in a neighbor’s garage and then descended into Wishing Well Cave. Mike shared how the dig through sandstone was now shored up using polyurethane foam. His team surveyed for 8 hours and 550 feet of passage across a very muddy room. The Romper Room had a dry sand floor and trended downward at the same dip angle as the rest of the cave. The team took a side trip to the well-decorated Sugar Run before exiting after ten hours underground.
Mike also shared a description of the first survey into Copenhaver’s Cave in Smyth County. Dave Duguid, Matt Jenkins, Trina Cooke, Ken Walsh, and Mike stayed in the warmth of Tanya McLaughlin’s house the night before, after shoveling a few inches of snow from her driveway. They met a nice landowner and an icy cave entrance with some spectacular icicles. Matt, Trina, and Ken surveyed the upper cold part of the cave while the other three dropped the cable ladder down twenty feet. Tanya did fine going up and down the cable ladder, and Mike’s team worked their way down to a room full of breakdown blocks. Mike found a way to climb up through the breakdown to another open room before they quit surveying for the day. Mike’s suit was freezing on him as he returned to the car in 16-degree weather. While Matt and Trina went snowshoeing the next day, Ken, Dave, and Mike went back to the open room. While surveying the Zen Garden, they found a duck under lead that led into a major mud-filled room and down to pretty rimstone dams and a larger flat-bottomed room. They exited without crawling back up the mud mountain.
After the break, the officers described their duties, and elections were held. We welcome the newly elected board: Howard Holgate (Chair), Ken Walsh (Vice Chair), Bryce Schroeder (Editor/Webmaster), Mark Little (Treasurer), and the empty seat (Secretary). Anyone wishing to run for Secretary should contact one of the officers.
Upcoming trips include:
January 29—Smyth County survey (Ken)
February 6 – 3D viewing of The Sanctum at Crossroads Cinema (4:30 PM and dinner afterwards)
February 19-20—Copenhaver’s Cave--leave on Saturday morning (Dave?, Mike, Lisa, and Ken)
May 1—Spring VAR
July—Convention in Glenwood Springs
Ken Walsh shared the program “Caving with CRF in the Ozarks” where he explained what the Cave Research Foundation is and then shared vacation slides.
The After-the-Meeting Meeting was held at Armadillo Grill.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Monday, November 1, 2010
October 26 TriTrogs General Meeting
Minutes recorded thanks to Mark Little.
Meeting started at 7:40, Howard presiding.
Copies of the agenda were distributed to attendees (your draft).
Howard noted the program to follow (video on caves in Italy).
Attendees introduced themselves.
Dues of 7.50 to Treasurer were announced for those who had not paid.
The holiday party will be at Howard’s house on 11 Dec. and will start at 6:00 PM. (Note that decision on the time is new.)
Howard noted that election for Grotto Officers will occur in January, and nominations are invited.
The November program will be on a lava tube cave in New Mexico.
Trip reports: None.
Trips Planned:
Conservation trip to Hancock on 20 November, with bat count on the 21st. Diana described cleanup plans. Count is now 9; plus 3 or 6 more possible. Some people who may attend will not be able to stay for Sunday and asked for a short Saturday trip into the cave.
Break before program.
Program – short video on caves in a region of Italy.
Adjourned.Thursday, October 14, 2010
TriTrog Officer Conference Call October 14, 2010
Mark Little, Mike Broome, Diana Gietl, Ken Walsh, and Howard Holgate held a conference call beginning at 8:22 PM to discuss three topics.
Howard agreed to host the Holiday Party on December 11. It will be a potluck affair, and Howard will handle the paper supplies. Howard will share a google maps link (http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=3536+Pinnacle+Drive,+Cary+NC+27518&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=3536+Pinnacle+Dr,+Cary,+Wake,+North+Carolina+27518&gl=us&ei=Aam3TOrQEYGClAeB9amLCQ&ved=0CBMQ8gEwAA&z=16), and Mike will add the event to the Google calendar. Ken will send out a notice asking for RSVPs by December 4, and Diana will help by suggesting type of dishes (sides, desserts, salads, etc.) that are needed. Howard will call Dick Webb to invite him to the party.
The conservation trip to Hancock Cave is on for November 20, and Duke will bring his truck for hauling stuff. The owner knows that we’ll be there, and we shouldn’t have to worry about hunters. Diana will send out an email this weekend about the trip to get a headcount by October 24. Howard will arrange the lodging, hopefully in a Hungry Mother cabin or two. If not, then we may resort to the Rodeway Inn in Marion. We’ll worry about food issues later. We should also bring cameras along for the bat count and cleanup efforts, and Ken will print out copies of portions of the cave maps so that teams can write the number of bats (healthy and infected of the different species) in each room. The convenience center is open until 5 PM on Saturday.
The October program will be Lucio dAlberto’s video "The Karst Aquifers of Veneto", a donation from Lucio, a former TriTrog.Thursday, October 7, 2010
Minutes from September 28, 2010 TriTrogs General Meeting
Meeting attendants included Mark Little, Pete Hertl, Mark Daughtridge, Ken Walsh, Sam and Sharon Freeze, Howard Holgate, Rob Harris, Benjamin Espanoza, Steve and Grant Mollner, Preston Schofield, and Andrew Linsenmeier. Howard Holgate presided.
Dues are half price to Mark Little for the remainder of the year ($7.50). No web updates were shared from Mike Broome.
Bugfest had 35,000 people in attendance this year. Pete Hertl had solicited help from the TriTrogs with his orthoptera display and encourages more TriTrogs to volunteer next year. Ken had a great time introducing kids to the mole crickets.
Howard may be able to host the Holiday Party and plans to present a possible date at the next meeting.
Mark Daughtridge and Rob Harris described the trip they took with Dave Duguid and Ken Walsh to Lovers Leap Cave, Easy Way Down Dig, and Cotton Cave. Mark cited the good trip report on the web site and stated that the muddy climb was the highlight of the trip. His midway piece pulled off, and it turned out to be a free solo up 35 feet. He climbed a collection of boulders and mud that went up at an angle, and none of the holds were real. An ice axe would've helped him climb Raccoon Ridge and into the Smart Car Show Room, but fish flopping worked for Mark. Mark would rate Raccoon Ridge as a 5.10R climb but wouldn't expect the same climb twice. After exploring at the top, he rappelled back down to Ken and Dave.
At the other end of the room in Lovers Leap, Dave dropped down into a slot pit. He found a 1950s-era flashlight at the bottom.
Rob found that a very round, smooth pack will roll and open when dropped from a cliff. Dave rappeled down for Rob's gear.
The next day the team dug at Easy Way Down Dig but discovered no way into the cave. They also went into Cotton Cave but found no way to do the flowstone waterfall climb. It's too pretty to want to set permanent rigging.
Pete Hertl mentioned his trip to Old Timers Reunion as the only rep from the grotto. They had great weather and found it to be warm enough. Pete won his rope climbing contest, and attendance was around 1500 this year. He met Buddy Penley's relatives at a small meat stand outside Hillsborough on his drive home.
Ken discussed his 17.5-hour trip into Gap Cave beginning in Virginia and surveying in Kentucky. [ed. I did not take notes while giving a trip report].
Pete also described the Vermont Convention and odd events that occurred.
Sam Freeze shared a description of a commercial wild cave tour into Raccoon Mountain.
Preston and Steve Mollner talked about a trip to Oxbow Cave near the James River. The memorable feature was the birthing canal.
In terms of upcoming trips, we discussed the Fall VAR/MAR, TAG Fall Cave In, and the upcoming grotto conservation trip to Hancock Cave in Virginia.
After the break, Howard shared the promotional video from Glenwood Springs 2011 National Speleological Society Convention, but the sound was turned down too low.
Dues are half price to Mark Little for the remainder of the year ($7.50). No web updates were shared from Mike Broome.
Bugfest had 35,000 people in attendance this year. Pete Hertl had solicited help from the TriTrogs with his orthoptera display and encourages more TriTrogs to volunteer next year. Ken had a great time introducing kids to the mole crickets.
Howard may be able to host the Holiday Party and plans to present a possible date at the next meeting.
Mark Daughtridge and Rob Harris described the trip they took with Dave Duguid and Ken Walsh to Lovers Leap Cave, Easy Way Down Dig, and Cotton Cave. Mark cited the good trip report on the web site and stated that the muddy climb was the highlight of the trip. His midway piece pulled off, and it turned out to be a free solo up 35 feet. He climbed a collection of boulders and mud that went up at an angle, and none of the holds were real. An ice axe would've helped him climb Raccoon Ridge and into the Smart Car Show Room, but fish flopping worked for Mark. Mark would rate Raccoon Ridge as a 5.10R climb but wouldn't expect the same climb twice. After exploring at the top, he rappelled back down to Ken and Dave.
At the other end of the room in Lovers Leap, Dave dropped down into a slot pit. He found a 1950s-era flashlight at the bottom.
Rob found that a very round, smooth pack will roll and open when dropped from a cliff. Dave rappeled down for Rob's gear.
The next day the team dug at Easy Way Down Dig but discovered no way into the cave. They also went into Cotton Cave but found no way to do the flowstone waterfall climb. It's too pretty to want to set permanent rigging.
Pete Hertl mentioned his trip to Old Timers Reunion as the only rep from the grotto. They had great weather and found it to be warm enough. Pete won his rope climbing contest, and attendance was around 1500 this year. He met Buddy Penley's relatives at a small meat stand outside Hillsborough on his drive home.
Ken discussed his 17.5-hour trip into Gap Cave beginning in Virginia and surveying in Kentucky. [ed. I did not take notes while giving a trip report].
Pete also described the Vermont Convention and odd events that occurred.
Sam Freeze shared a description of a commercial wild cave tour into Raccoon Mountain.
Preston and Steve Mollner talked about a trip to Oxbow Cave near the James River. The memorable feature was the birthing canal.
In terms of upcoming trips, we discussed the Fall VAR/MAR, TAG Fall Cave In, and the upcoming grotto conservation trip to Hancock Cave in Virginia.
After the break, Howard shared the promotional video from Glenwood Springs 2011 National Speleological Society Convention, but the sound was turned down too low.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
August 24, 2010 Minutes TriTrogs General Meeting
Mark Daughtridge, Diana Gietl, Mark Little, Howard Holgate, Matthew van Fossen, Robert Harris, Pete Hertl, and Ken Walsh were in attendance. Howard Holgate presided over the meeting.
Howard mentioned that dues can now be paid at half price to Mark Little. Mike Broome had no news about he web site development, but Ken mentioned that new photos have been added to the online photo gallery.
BugFest will be held on Saturday, September 11 this year, and Pete Hertl encouraged the TriTrog members to sign up for two-hour shifts. If you work two shifts, you get lunch and a t-shirt. His display is about orthoptera--junping insects. Pete described the event, mentioned that the TriTrogs should be helping out the museum, and then discussions turned to insect consumption.
Dick Webb donated several books to the grotto, and Howard wants to send him a thank you. However, Howard hasn't found him yet and would like help from anyone who might know him.
Hannah Reynolds solicited the TriTrogs a few months ago for information about WNS before a mycologist's roundtable discussion. However, we never heardd back from her about how the discussions went.
Discussion turned to Final Jeopardy while we waited for Diana's arrival.
Peter Hertl drove to the NSS Convention (2000-mile round trip). Pete arrived Sunday, participated in rope climbing the first two days, went to sessions on Wednesday, the photography salon, banquet, international exploration session, and rope training. He also described the stealth beer drinking from kegs in the parking lot and the bonfire that the fire department hosed down before 9:30 PM.
Upcoming trips include:
August 28—Lovers Leap Cave survey trip
September 2-6 –Old Timers Reunion
October 1-3—VAR/MAR at Friars Hole ($30 at http://varegion.org/var/events/FallVAR/FallVAR.shtml--preregister by September 10 to get the guidebook and bring your own water)
October 9-11--TAG Fall Cave In
Conservation trip to clean up Hancock Cave—Diana is working on coordinating a date in early October or late November (likely Nov. 20)
July 16-22, 2011--NSS Convention in Glenwood Springs, CO (Howard may reserve a cabin)
Ken agreed to find the convention promotion video (youtube link at http://nss2011.org/info.htm--under 14 minutes) and to bring the book Caves of Colorado to the next meeting. By the way, the book indicates that Glenwood Springs is the biggest cave formation area in Colorado.
After the break, we watched some of the Planet Earth video about caves.
Howard mentioned that dues can now be paid at half price to Mark Little. Mike Broome had no news about he web site development, but Ken mentioned that new photos have been added to the online photo gallery.
BugFest will be held on Saturday, September 11 this year, and Pete Hertl encouraged the TriTrog members to sign up for two-hour shifts. If you work two shifts, you get lunch and a t-shirt. His display is about orthoptera--junping insects. Pete described the event, mentioned that the TriTrogs should be helping out the museum, and then discussions turned to insect consumption.
Dick Webb donated several books to the grotto, and Howard wants to send him a thank you. However, Howard hasn't found him yet and would like help from anyone who might know him.
Hannah Reynolds solicited the TriTrogs a few months ago for information about WNS before a mycologist's roundtable discussion. However, we never heardd back from her about how the discussions went.
Discussion turned to Final Jeopardy while we waited for Diana's arrival.
Peter Hertl drove to the NSS Convention (2000-mile round trip). Pete arrived Sunday, participated in rope climbing the first two days, went to sessions on Wednesday, the photography salon, banquet, international exploration session, and rope training. He also described the stealth beer drinking from kegs in the parking lot and the bonfire that the fire department hosed down before 9:30 PM.
Upcoming trips include:
August 28—Lovers Leap Cave survey trip
September 2-6 –Old Timers Reunion
October 1-3—VAR/MAR at Friars Hole ($30 at http://varegion.org/var/events/FallVAR/FallVAR.shtml--preregister by September 10 to get the guidebook and bring your own water)
October 9-11--TAG Fall Cave In
Conservation trip to clean up Hancock Cave—Diana is working on coordinating a date in early October or late November (likely Nov. 20)
July 16-22, 2011--NSS Convention in Glenwood Springs, CO (Howard may reserve a cabin)
Ken agreed to find the convention promotion video (youtube link at http://nss2011.org/info.htm--under 14 minutes) and to bring the book Caves of Colorado to the next meeting. By the way, the book indicates that Glenwood Springs is the biggest cave formation area in Colorado.
After the break, we watched some of the Planet Earth video about caves.
Monday, August 9, 2010
July 2010 General Meeting Minutes
Rob Harris, Mat van Fossen, Duke Dooley, Mike Broome, Pete Hertl, Mark Little, Ken Walsh , Brian Bolt, Diana Gietl, and Howard Holgate attended. Howard presided over the meeting.
Mike Broome mentioned that he has thanked Dick Webb on our web site for the new library books. Howard will track down Dick Webb’s address to thank him for his generous donation. Mike will update the online library catalog and post the Volunteer Values feature on the web site.
Rob Harris shared a description of the visit he and Ken Walsh took to the Old Lead Mine (actually graphite) inside the Raleigh Beltline. They traveled 60 feet to the back, and the walls were clay-like and soft with quartz veins. It’s said that it was an old Civil War Mine. Rob and Ken surveyed and photographed the mine.
Howard described the trip to Paxton Cave with Dave Duguid, Ken Walsh, and coworkers and family. Howard talked about the new cavers and not about getting lost. Howard brought the old sister and the young kids. Highlights included Hershey’s ice cream and smores.
Mike Broome described his BCCS trip over Memorial Day weekend to Butler Cave. Saturday they worked aboveground at the site. Lisa Lorenzin and he ended up going underground on the 30th around 9 AM. They went back to work on the Air Dig, a 100-foot long straight passage. The Air Dig turns and drops into a dig with air blowing. The diggers have added a pulley system with a suspended system (flying dragon) and a thin piece of webbing to pull the dirt buckets. The Flying Dragon runs with a 4-minute round trip, and they spent 8 hours digging— estimate of about 65 buckets (at 4 gallons each). Although Mike tried to lead the way out afterwards, Mike Kissler’s comments about the scenic route kept him on his toes.
Upcoming trips included the NSS Convention, Old Timers Reunion (Labor Day weekend), and a grotto trip during the MAR/VAR event at Friars Hole (October 1-3). In terms of cleaning out the back entrance of Hancock Cave, Diana will help coordinate a date in September.
Rob Harris shared a trip report and slides from his Nicaraguan trip to the Caribbean plate where he explored lava tubes. It was tough breathing at the top of the volcano, and he brought his own light into the lava tubes. He saw insect-eating bats, fruit bats, and vampire bats. Indian artifacts were found in the back of the lava tubes.
Rob also shared some photos of the work to improve the gate at Tawney’s Cave. He carried cement up and water. They added 12-15 bags of cement so that no one can slip under the gate.
Howard Holgate then shared a great presentation titled “Saltpeter Caves: Strategic Assets in Early America.” We all learned a lot about the saltpeter mining industry in the United States, and we learned that “lixiviate” means “to leach.”
Mike Broome mentioned that he has thanked Dick Webb on our web site for the new library books. Howard will track down Dick Webb’s address to thank him for his generous donation. Mike will update the online library catalog and post the Volunteer Values feature on the web site.
Rob Harris shared a description of the visit he and Ken Walsh took to the Old Lead Mine (actually graphite) inside the Raleigh Beltline. They traveled 60 feet to the back, and the walls were clay-like and soft with quartz veins. It’s said that it was an old Civil War Mine. Rob and Ken surveyed and photographed the mine.
Howard described the trip to Paxton Cave with Dave Duguid, Ken Walsh, and coworkers and family. Howard talked about the new cavers and not about getting lost. Howard brought the old sister and the young kids. Highlights included Hershey’s ice cream and smores.
Mike Broome described his BCCS trip over Memorial Day weekend to Butler Cave. Saturday they worked aboveground at the site. Lisa Lorenzin and he ended up going underground on the 30th around 9 AM. They went back to work on the Air Dig, a 100-foot long straight passage. The Air Dig turns and drops into a dig with air blowing. The diggers have added a pulley system with a suspended system (flying dragon) and a thin piece of webbing to pull the dirt buckets. The Flying Dragon runs with a 4-minute round trip, and they spent 8 hours digging— estimate of about 65 buckets (at 4 gallons each). Although Mike tried to lead the way out afterwards, Mike Kissler’s comments about the scenic route kept him on his toes.
Upcoming trips included the NSS Convention, Old Timers Reunion (Labor Day weekend), and a grotto trip during the MAR/VAR event at Friars Hole (October 1-3). In terms of cleaning out the back entrance of Hancock Cave, Diana will help coordinate a date in September.
Rob Harris shared a trip report and slides from his Nicaraguan trip to the Caribbean plate where he explored lava tubes. It was tough breathing at the top of the volcano, and he brought his own light into the lava tubes. He saw insect-eating bats, fruit bats, and vampire bats. Indian artifacts were found in the back of the lava tubes.
Rob also shared some photos of the work to improve the gate at Tawney’s Cave. He carried cement up and water. They added 12-15 bags of cement so that no one can slip under the gate.
Howard Holgate then shared a great presentation titled “Saltpeter Caves: Strategic Assets in Early America.” We all learned a lot about the saltpeter mining industry in the United States, and we learned that “lixiviate” means “to leach.”
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
June 22, 2010 TriTrogs General Meeting
Diana Gietl, Hayden and Howard Holgate, Duke Dooley, Ken Walsh, and Dick Webb came to the meeting. Dick offered old books from his collection to the grotto library.
We had no discussion about improvements to the web site, but Diana noted that the Volunteer Values section of the web site has not yet been posted. Something was mentioned about cleaning old events off of the web page, but that may have just been the way the user scrolled through the Google calendar.
Diana mentioned that Hannah Reynolds of Duke University is headed for a mycology conference and is looking for input from the TriTrogs and the caving community about the WNS roundtable discussions.
Ken shared Dave Duguid's trip report about bat observations with his kids and Mary Frazier (NCDOT) at the Cole Mill Road bridge in Durham. He mentioned that they saw at least 220 big browns in about 30 minutes as they emerged from the bridge expansion joints. If you know off any other bridges in the state with bat populations, Mary Frazier would like to know.
Duke Dooley described the difficulties with entering Lovers Leap Cave and talked about a squealing, flailing pig. He then shared that in Worley's Cave we surveyed to the left side of the passage. Dave Duguid found his way into a small dig that led to 300 yards of passageway that he and Rob Harris explored. His muscles were too sore the next day to participate in the Easy Way Down Dig, so Ken described that muddy effort in very soft limestone that roots helped break into a nice slot. Unfortunately the current lack of air flow left it difficult to determine which way to go next.
Diana was in New Jersey recently and described digs near Albany, NY. Her friend Tony dug down 60 feet toward what will be a really big cave once they find their way in. He is convinced that there is at least 15 miles of cave beneath the surface.
We then began discussing the graphite mine inside the Raleigh Beltline, and Dick Webb shared where some of the former "lead" mines are. We also discussed the friability of graphite and the dangers of radon.
In discussing upcoming trips, Diana mentioned that she may decide to travel to the Vermont Convention, but it will be a last minute decision.
We then discussed the possibility of combining this year's grotto trip to the Wildcat Entrance of Culverson Creek Cave with the VAR/MAR being held on October 1-3. The cool temps and low water levels should make the trip a good time for all, and no one would need to prepare the dinner.
When we began talking about a conservation trip, Duke Dooley asked if anyone had a flat trailer that could be pulled. We're thinking about cleaning up the rest of the back entrance to Hancock Cave on a weekend when Duke's truck could pull up the old appliances. Diana will propose some dates for the trip to Duke and try to get a date set.
Howard is looking for an easy caving trip in July for family members. I think he's settled on Paxton's Cave around July 24. Diana, Dave, and Ken may also go.
The meeting adjourned early, and much food was enjoyed at The Diner on Glenwood Avenue.
We had no discussion about improvements to the web site, but Diana noted that the Volunteer Values section of the web site has not yet been posted. Something was mentioned about cleaning old events off of the web page, but that may have just been the way the user scrolled through the Google calendar.
Diana mentioned that Hannah Reynolds of Duke University is headed for a mycology conference and is looking for input from the TriTrogs and the caving community about the WNS roundtable discussions.
Ken shared Dave Duguid's trip report about bat observations with his kids and Mary Frazier (NCDOT) at the Cole Mill Road bridge in Durham. He mentioned that they saw at least 220 big browns in about 30 minutes as they emerged from the bridge expansion joints. If you know off any other bridges in the state with bat populations, Mary Frazier would like to know.
Duke Dooley described the difficulties with entering Lovers Leap Cave and talked about a squealing, flailing pig. He then shared that in Worley's Cave we surveyed to the left side of the passage. Dave Duguid found his way into a small dig that led to 300 yards of passageway that he and Rob Harris explored. His muscles were too sore the next day to participate in the Easy Way Down Dig, so Ken described that muddy effort in very soft limestone that roots helped break into a nice slot. Unfortunately the current lack of air flow left it difficult to determine which way to go next.
Diana was in New Jersey recently and described digs near Albany, NY. Her friend Tony dug down 60 feet toward what will be a really big cave once they find their way in. He is convinced that there is at least 15 miles of cave beneath the surface.
We then began discussing the graphite mine inside the Raleigh Beltline, and Dick Webb shared where some of the former "lead" mines are. We also discussed the friability of graphite and the dangers of radon.
In discussing upcoming trips, Diana mentioned that she may decide to travel to the Vermont Convention, but it will be a last minute decision.
We then discussed the possibility of combining this year's grotto trip to the Wildcat Entrance of Culverson Creek Cave with the VAR/MAR being held on October 1-3. The cool temps and low water levels should make the trip a good time for all, and no one would need to prepare the dinner.
When we began talking about a conservation trip, Duke Dooley asked if anyone had a flat trailer that could be pulled. We're thinking about cleaning up the rest of the back entrance to Hancock Cave on a weekend when Duke's truck could pull up the old appliances. Diana will propose some dates for the trip to Duke and try to get a date set.
Howard is looking for an easy caving trip in July for family members. I think he's settled on Paxton's Cave around July 24. Diana, Dave, and Ken may also go.
The meeting adjourned early, and much food was enjoyed at The Diner on Glenwood Avenue.
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